Edge

ULC members are encouraged to participate in this groundbreaking tool that captures, strengthens, and conveys the power of the public technology libraries provide communities.

What is Edge? Edge is a leadership and management tool which helps library leaders align the library's technology services to the needs of the community and communicate the library’s value to community leaders. We believe that through Edge, library leaders can comprehensively assess their library's current public technology services and connect its value to community priorities.

The Edge Initiative was developed by a coalition of leading library and local government organizations with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and led by the Urban Libraries Council. Edge is the professional tool that the field will continue to build and to use for many years to come.

How Do Libraries Use Edge?The process starts by completing the Edge assessment and then engaging staff and local leaders in discussions to connect the results to strategic planning, action plans, management, and, ultimately, to improving public technology in your community. Early experience has shown the power of using the process fully and engaging Edge over time.

Here’s what a fellow ULC Library Director said about her experience with Edge:

"Edge is not just about providing high quality technology. It is also about knowing your community and the types of technology programs that your community needs. The Pioneer Library System is conducting a system-wide community assessment survey in preparation for a strategic planning process. We will be integrating the Edge Assessment information into our strategic planning and discussing it with our city government and community planning group. The Edge information will insure that our technology planning is an integral part of our strategic plan." - Anne Masters, Library Director, Pioneer Library System (OK)

How Do I Get the Edge? As leaders and innovators, we encourage our ULC members to be among the first to participate in Edge. To sign up, go to libraryedge.org and click on the “Sign Up” link at the top right corner of the page. Then, complete the Library Pre-Registration form and “Request an Account”.